Chapter 23. Letters in March
The remainder of winter was long and hard with heavy snow across the whole of England. Letters between Derbyshire and Hertfordshire were infrequent, but everyone spent their hours reading, working with needle and thread, practicing music, or making plans for planting in the spring.
**++**
Dear Georgiana, We have good news to share from Hertfordshire this first week of March.
Over the winter, Mr Finch, our Uncle Phillip’s partner in the law office, has renewed his attentions to Charlotte Lucas.
You may not remember that four years ago, when Sir William Lucas was elevated to the knighthood by His Majesty, Charlotte’s parents forced the young couple to end their courtship.
Charlotte was much affected by the refusal of her parents to allow the match.
Sir William and Lady Lucas thought a better match for Charlotte would appear, but she lingered at their home without suitors.
She is now five and twenty years, thus able to marry without her father’s permission and she has made Mr Finch aware of her wishes.
In December, there was a dance at Meryton where Mr Finch asked Miss Lucas to dance three separate times, and the matrons all approved of his declaration.
After an engagement of only two months, they are to marry from Lucas Lodge and set up housekeeping in a very pleasant cottage in Meryton.
We all turn our needles to sewing new quilts to gift the newlyweds–this winter seems to never end, and the cold is every day closer. Your Affectionate Friend, Elizabeth Bennet
**++**
As the days grew longer and warmer, a letter arrived at Longbourn that gave Mr Bennet pause.
After reading the contents twice, he asked Mrs Bennet to join him in the library and forbade admittance to any of his daughters for over an hour.
In time, Mr Bennet sent Mrs Hill to summon Jane and Elizabeth to join them in the library.
“We have come, Papa,” Jane said with Elizabeth at her side.
“Close the door and sit girls,” Mr Bennet told them. “We have much to discuss.”
“Has something happened?” Elizabeth asked. “What is the matter?”
“This day I have received a most interesting letter from Mr Darcy,” he announced and waited a moment though neither daughter said more.
Finally, Elizabeth asked, “Will they return to Netherfield soon?”
“Not to Netherfield immediately, but they come to London this week. Mr Darcy has several obligations with Parliament and the ton he must meet. In his letter he made a suggestion that your mother and I have just discussed at some length.”
“It is an important matter,” Mrs Bennet added.
“What is it, Papa?” asked Jane.
Mr Bennet gazed steadily at his two oldest daughters before he sighed as though these facts caused him pain.
“You know I put little value on the parties and pageantry of the ton in town. But with our connection to the Darcy family now, there are many more avenues open to you both. With Mr Darcy’s position in society, Miss Georgiana will be presented at court in four or five years, and she has expressed the wish that Catherine and Lydia join her that day. ”
To be presented at court was the first step for all young women of quality to being accepted into the higher ranks of society. The ceremony required a particular style of gown, and the sponsorship of a lady already accepted in society.
“Mr Darcy believes that to lay the foundation for this future event, the two eldest Miss Bennets should be presented to the queen next month. In another year, Mary will have her presentation and then two years on, Catherine and Lydia will join Miss Georgiana when she is presented to the queen.”
“Presentation at court?” asked Elizabeth. She immediately continued, “We must have a sponsor, Papa. Who do we know that would provide such services?”
“Mr Darcy has corresponded with several connections in London, and he has prevailed upon Lord and Lady Liverpool to sponsor you both for presentation in April.”
“Lord Liverpool?” asked Jane.
“His lordship is Robert Jenkinson, and his wife is the daughter of the Earl of Bristol. They have an impeccable social pedigree.”
“Mamma, what do you say?” asked Jane.
Mrs Bennet smiled as she assured her daughters of her approval. “Mr Darcy is being most generous girls. You will be introduced to many young men with good fortunes.”
“We do not want either of you to rush into marriage but if you meet more young men, you may meet with someone who interests you.”
Elizabeth frowned before she said, “We have small dowries Papa. Why would a lord or rich man want one of us as a wife?”
“Are you without charm or beauty?” Mr Bennet asked seriously. “You are each a virtuous woman who would bring honour and health to your marriage.”
“And now you bring a connection to Mr Darcy,” Mrs Bennet said. “From what your father and other gentlemen say at supper, the King’s ministers will call on Mr Darcy when he is residence in London.”
Jane was deep in thought while Elizabeth worried.
“I should like to be presented Papa,” Jane finally announced. “I have been out in society for five years and have yet to meet an interesting man in Hertfordshire. I do not want to be on the shelf like Miss Lucas or elope with just any young man.”
“You are the loveliest girl in all of Hertfordshire, Jane. I have often told you so!” Mrs Bennet insisted.
“But no young men come to call,” the eldest daughter replied. “I think they are afraid of Mr Darcy.”
“Afraid of Mr Darcy?” asked Elizabeth. “There is no kinder man in the kingdom than Mr Darcy!”
Mr Bennet’s mouth twitched with humour to hear his daughter defend the gentleman. He caught his wife’s eye, and her mouth was firmer than his–she feared her daughter would suffer a broken heart when Mr Darcy had to marry the daughter of a rich lord.
“We shall impose upon Mr and Mrs Gardiner to take you to the modiste and other shops for all the items necessary for presentation at court with Lady Liverpool. I understand that Mrs Gardiner has already made an acquaintance with the lady. The carriage will take you to Gracechurch Street tomorrow and Lady Liverpool will call the following day to begin her preparations.”
“Papa, do we have the funds for these gowns and...” asked Elizabeth.
Mr Bennet’s face grew sour as he explained, “Miss Darcy has insisted that her brother provide the funds necessary. Apparently, Miss Darcy is an extremely wealthy heiress now and her brother intends to indulge her every wish.”
**++**
The next morning, the Bennet carriage made the journey into London in just over three hours with Jane and Elizabeth alternating between animated discussions and deep silences.
During their discussions, the sisters spoke of shopping, their forthcoming presentation and the opportunity to meet young men.
In the long silences, Jane dealt with her understanding of Elizabeth’s melancholy and determined to help her sister return to her usual cheerful self while Elizabeth spent the silences in great wonderment.
‘What do I want?’ Elizabeth stared out of the carriage windows. ‘He cannot look at me... He has to marry a title... an heiress... where I am simple country lass. How shall I bear it?’
Lost in her thoughts where there were no doubts, she admitted in her heart, ‘I... I love William.’ The silence was deafening across the years before her.
“Lizzy... Lizzy,” called a voice.
Elizabeth turned from the window and suddenly heard the sounds of Gracechurch Street; boys calling to each other, the hooves of horses clopping on the cobblestone street, and Jane’s voice.
“Lizzy, are you quite well?”
Blushing Elizabeth replied, “My mind wandered afar, Jane. That is all.”
“Come,” Jane said in her calmest voice. “Our aunt waits at the door with her babes.”
**++**
Over the last ten years, Mrs Edward Gardiner’s patronage of a particular dressmaker brought the seamstress good coin, worthy references, and a smarter location.
Her new shop had large windows on a busy street where her gowns were seen by pedestrians and passengers in carriages.
A new patron of the shop was one Louisa Bingley, soon to wed Mr Geoffrey Hurst. This morning the young woman called at the shop to have the final fitting for her wedding gown and her younger sister, Caroline, attended.
Descending from their brother’s carriage, Caroline fussed, “Louisa, I remain unconvinced that this is the best shop. Certainly, there are more shops and gowns to choose from...”
“But I wanted this gown, and the material found here. Mrs Lambert has given my wedding gown her particular attention–she is determined that it will be perfection for my wedding day.”
Caroline sighed and explained to Louisa, “But her name is not known by anyone important. I doubt the paper will mention your gown in the description of the wedding unless it was purchased from one of the elegant shops.”
Not waiting for the footman, Louisa opened the door of the shop herself with Caroline following behind, a frown on her face.
The footman kept his face stony, but he knew there would be words at the house from Miss Caroline because he was not fast enough to open the shop door for her sister.
Thankfully, the butler generally ignored Miss Caroline’s diatribes concerning the staff and Mr Bingley paid no attention to his sister’s screeching.
Inside the shop, a young woman escorted the sisters to a pair of chairs and offered them tea which they declined.
“Mrs Lambert is expecting me at one of the clock,” Louisa informed the girl.
“Yes miss,” the girl replied. “Madam is completing the pinning of new gowns for two young ladies just now and will be with you shortly.”
“On time,” inserted Caroline with a cool tone to her voice. “My sister and I do not wait on tradesmen.”
Surprised by the younger lady’s strident tone, the shop girl curtseyed and hurried into the back of the store.
The murmur of voices was heard from behind the curtains and before the clock began to chime the hour, the seamstress came through, followed by a woman and two younger women who referred to her as ‘Aunt’.
The shop girl carried a large roll of material–a muted rose-coloured silk–back to the counter.
“Aunt, the green and the apricot gowns are certainly enough,” the dark-haired younger woman said. “I believe the rose will do for Kitty or Mary when we return home.”
“Are you certain my dear? Jane will have three new gowns and only the two for you...”
“I have only worn my Christmas gown twice and it will do for many parties this spring.”
Eavesdropping, Caroline sneered. “Louisa, please. This shop caters to families in trade! Look at this woman and her...”
“Caroline, hush!” the elder sister fussed but the young woman ignored her sister and continued to peer at the other customers of the dress shop.
While Mrs Lambert kept her face pleasant as if she had not heard the words, the shop girl’s face showed her evident surprise to hear such a disparaging remark made aloud for all to hear.
Mrs Madeline Gardiner was familiar with the prejudices of some members of ton–especially along the fringes of ‘quality society’ where new families attempted to join the ton and pretend their grandparents were not labourers or tradesmen themselves.
Her intention was to gradually introduce her nieces to the vagaries of polite London society while preparing for their introduction to the queen.
Louisa rose and walked to a table away from the counter where Mrs Gardiner arranged for delivery of the gowns.
“Caroline, look,” Louisa called as she held up a length of lovely blue silk. “This colour would make an excellent gown for you. It would certainly catch some gentleman’s eye.”
With their fitting complete, Mrs Gardiner led her nieces from the shop just as the clock chimed one. “Miss Bingley, if you will come this way, we can complete the fitting of your wedding gown.”
**++**